Year 12 advanced mathematics problems

These of problems, amongst others, have been used or will be used in FMSP y12 problems
courses in Sheffield and Leicester. Problems marked with an * are probably harder. Problems
marked with ** are tough. Problem sheet prepared in LaTeX by D Almeida. Users are free to
modify the TeX file to produce alternate outputs. In case of queries please contact
D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk

ALGEBRA

4
1. How many real solutions does the equation x2 + 10 = −x2 + 2x − 2 have?
Hint: Complete the square on the right side of the equation.
2. Given that the numbers a and b are solutions of x2 + ax + b = 0. Find a and b.



3. The positive integers m and n are such that m2 + 2n − n2 + 2m = 5. Find the possible
values of m and n.
Hint: Use the difference of two squares factorisation and the fact that 5 is prime.
a
4. Given numbers a, p and t such that 0 < p < 1, a > 0 and t = .
1−p
(a) Show that t = a + pt ...... (*).
In the right side of the relation (*) replace t by t = a + pt repeatedly to derive the
expression: t = a + ap + ap2 + ap3 + ............. + apn−1 + pn t, for n ≥ 1.
a (1 − pn )
(b) Hence prove that = a + ap + ap2 + ap3 + ............. + apn−1 .
1−p
5. Given that k is a real number.
(a) Show that x = 1 is a root of the equation x3 − (k + 1)x + k = 0 no matter what the
value of k is.
(b) Find all values of k for which the equation has exactly two distinct solutions.
6. T (m, n), where m and n are positive integers with m > 4n, denotes a triangle. Each T (m, n)
has side lengths x, y and z defined by:
m 4m − 8n 8n2 − 4mn + m2
x= , y= , z= .
n m − 4n n(m − 4n)

(a) Prove that each T (m, n) is right angled by showing that x2 = z 2 − y 2 . You are advised
to use the relation z 2 − y 2 = (z − y)(z + y) to simplify the algebraic manipulations.
(b) Prove that the expression for the perimeter of each T (m, n) is the same as the expression
for its area.
(c) Find two sets of values for (m, n) such that the triangle T (m, n) has sides of integer
lengths.

7. * A continued fraction is the sum of an integer and a sequence of fractions each with numerator
1 evaluated successively right to left. For example:
1 1
3+ =3+
1 3
2+ 2+
1 16
5+
3
16
=3+
35
121
=
35

By expressing suitable numerical and algebraic fractions as continued fractions find a solution,
in integers, for x, y, z and t when:

520(xyzt + xy + xt + zt + 1) = 577(yzt + y + t)

1 D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk
 8. ** Given that x1 , x2 , x3 , ........., x8 are positive integers such that
1 1
1− =
1 1
2+ x1 +
1 1
3+ x2 +
1 1
4+ x3 +
1 1
5+ x4 +
1 1
6+ x5 +
1 1
7+ x6 +
8 1
x7 +
x8
Without evaluating the given continued fraction find x1 , x2 , x3 , ........., x8 .
9. * Given that
x(y + z − x) y(x + z − y) z(x + y − z)
= =
a b c
where none of x, y, z, a, b or c are zero.

Prove that
a(b + c − a) b(a + c − b) c(a + b − c)
= = .
x y z
COORDINATE GEOMETRY

10. Two of the vertices of the triangle ABC have coordinates A (3, 8) and B (9, 2). The side BC
lies on the line 4y = −x + 17 and the side AC lies on the line y = 2x + 2. Find the area of
the triangle.
11. The triangle ABC together with the coordinates of its vertices is described in the figure
below:

(a) Given O is the origin.

Prove that AB 2 + AC 2 = 2AO2 + 2OC 2 .
(b) Find all the relations between the set {p, q, r} which ensure the triangle ABC is right
angled.

12. A parabola has equation y = x2 . The distinct points P (p, p2 ) and Q (q, q 2 ) lie on the
parabola in such a way that ∠P OQ is always a right angle, where O is the origin.
(a) Find the coordinates of the mid-point R of P Q.
(b) R lies on the parabola y = ax2 + b. Find the values of the constants a and b.

2 D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk
13. Find the coordinates of the reflection of the point P with coordinates (3, 4) in the line
3x + 4y = 50.
14. Given that a is a positive number. Find the equation of the line L that passes through the
point ( 12 a, 0) and has gradient m.

(a) Find the value of m > 0 for which L is a tangent to the curve C : y = 41 x2 .
(b) Determine the coordinates of the point of contact P between this tangent and the curve.
(c) Show the distance between P and (0, 1) is equal to the distance of P to the line y = −1.

15. C1 and C2 are two concentric circles with radii p and q respectively, with q > p. A tangent
to C1 intersects C2 at A and B. Given that AB = 10 cm, find the area between the two
circles.
Hint: Make a sketch of the two circles, the tangent and the radius at the point of contact.
Construct a relevant right angled triangle.
16. Two circles have equations (x − 1)2 + (y − 2)2 = 25 and (x + 3)2 + (y + 2)2 = 9. Find the
coordinates of their intersection points.
Hint: Eliminate x2 and y 2 from the two equations and this will give you a relation between
x and y, substitute the latter into the equation of the first circle to find a quadratic equation
in x.

SERIES
17. (a) Can the sum (1 − 2 + 3 − 4 + 5 − 6 + ........ − 2n) ever be positive?
(b) Given that N is a positive odd integer such that ΣN = (1−2+3−4+5−.......+N ) ≥ 100.
Find the find the smallest such N .
18. * By Sn we denote the sum (1 + 2 + 3 + ....... + n), where n is a positive integer. We already
know that Sn = 21 n(n + 1). Now prove that if Tn = S1 + S2 + S3 + ........... + Sn then
Tn = 61 n(n + 1)(n + 2).
Hint. Consider the n × n square array of numbers each row of which is 1, 2, 3, ..........., n.
If a diagonal is drawn from top left corner to the bottom right hand one, then Tn can be
identified the sum of the numbers ’below’ this diagonal.
19. Consider the two arithmetic sequences of 100 terms each:

5, 8, 11, ...., (5 + 3n), ......., (5 + 3 × 99)

3, 7, 11, ...., (3 + 4n), ......., (3 + 4 × 99)

11 is a number common to both sequences. List all the numbers common to both sequences.
20. An arithmetic sequence has first term a and common difference d > 0. The sum of the first
N terms of this arithmetic sequence is denoted by SN .
(a) Find, in terms of a, n and d, Sn and S2n .
(b) Find, in terms of a, n and d, the ratio
S2n − Sn
R=
Sn

(c) If the ratio R is constant for all values of n (i.e. it is independent of n) and a = 1, what
is the numerical value of a100 ?
21. An arithmetic sequence has first term a > 0 and common difference d > 0. The nth term of
the series is denoted by un . It is given that
um+1 un+1
=
un+1 up+1
where m < n < p.
Find an expression, in terms of m, n and p, for the ratio between first term of the series and
the common difference.

3 D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk
22. An arithmetic sequence has first term a > 0 and common difference d > 0. The sum of the
first N terms of this arithmetic sequence is denoted by SN and the N th term is denoted by uN .

Sn n2
It is given that = 2 , where m < n. Use the formula for SN and algebra to ma-
Sm m
un
nipulate this ratio to derive an expression for the ratio in terms of a, m, n and um .
um
n
Deduce that this ratio between the nth term and the mth term is greater than .
m
23. When f (x) = 1 + 2x + 4x2 + 8x3 + .... + 250 x50 is divided by (x − 2) the remainder is r. Use
451 − 1
the remainder theorem to show that r = .
3

10
24. Find the power of x which has the greatest coefficient in the expansion of 1 + 12 x .
25. Given that 0 < x < π. Solve the equation

2 = 1 + cos x + cos2 x + cos3 x + ...........

CALCULUS
26. The diagram below shows the graph of curve C : y = x2 . S is the point with coordinates
(0, 1), P is the point on C with coordinates (p, p2 ), p 6= 0. T and N represent the tangent
and normal to C at P .

(a) Find the equations of T and N . For what values of p does N pass through S?
(b) If d is the distance P S, find d2 in terms of p.
(c) By completing the square in the expression for d2 , find the values of p for which d is the
smallest. What can you say about these values of p?

d2 y dy
27. Given that y = x and y = 1 − x2 are solutions of the equation + p(x) + q(x)y = 0 (*).
dx2 dx
2x 2
Show that p(x) = − , q(x) = .
1 + x2 1 + x2
2
Also show that y = ax + b(1 − x ), where a and b are constants, is a solution of (*).

4 D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk
28. There exists a function y = e(x) which is never zero and whose derivative is itself;
dy
i.e. = e(x).
dx

It is given that y = e(x) and y = x both satisfy the equation

d2 y dy
p(x) 2
+ q(x) +y =0 (∗)
dx dx
where p(x) and q(x) are functions of x.

Find p(x) and q(x). And show that, for any constants A and B, y = Ae(x) + Bx also
satisfies the equation (*).

29. * A triangle with sides of length a, b and c has area A given by the formula:
p
A = s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c), where 2s = a + b + c.

Given that a = 8, b = 15 and c = x. Determine the value of x which maximises A. What

can you say about the triangle when A is largest?
Hint: Find an expression for A2 and then use calculus..

30. Which point on the parabola y 2 = 4x is closest to the point (−1, 4)?

31. * A function f(x) satisfies:

f(x)
f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y) + x2 y + xy 2 and lim = 1.
x→0 x

for all values of x and y.

Find f(0) and f 0 (0). And prove that f 0 (x) = 1 + x2 .

TRIGONOMETRY
32. Find the value of (sin 10◦ + sin 20◦ + ....... + sin 90◦ )+(sin 190◦ + sin 200◦ + ....... + sin 270◦ ).

33. * Find all solutions of the equation sin8 x + cos6 x = 1 in the range 0 ≤ x < 2π.
34. Solve the simultaneous equations below for x and y in terms of sin θ and cos θ.

x cos θ − y sin θ = 2 (1)

x sin θ + y cos θ = 1 (2)

Is there an angle θ for which x = y = 1?

Determine any value(s) of tan θ for which x = y.

5 D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk
35. The diagram below shows a rectangle ADEF . In this rectangle a right angled triangle ABC
with hypotenuse 1 length is inscribed. Given that ∠BAC = Y and ∠BAD = X.

(a) Show that ∠CBE = X and ∠ACF = X + Y .

(b) Express the unknown lengths of the sides of the triangles ABC, BAD, BEC and CAF
in terms of the sine or/and the cosine of one of the angles X or Y or (X + Y ).
(c) Hence determine formulae for sin(X + Y ) and cos(X + Y ) in terms of some members of
the set {sin X, sin Y, cos X, cos Y }.

36. * Find all solutions of the equation (3 + cos x)2 = 4 − 2 sin8 x in the range 0 ≤ x < 2π.

EXPONENTIALS AND LOGARITHMS

37. * For any positive integer n we define
(
log9 n, if log9 n is rational.
f (n) =
0, otherwise.
2016
P
Find the numerical value of the sum f (n).
n=1

38. * Given

x log2 a + y loga 2 = 2 (3)

x log4 a + y loga 4 = 7 (4)

where a is a positive number.

By writing all logarithms in a common base find x and y in terms of logarithms and show
that xy = −8.
Determine any values of a for which x = −y.
39. *
2
(a) The equation log(x2 −3x)3 4 = has two real roots. Find them and explain why the
3
equation cannot have more than two real roots.
(b) Find the non-zero rational root of the equation (2x)log10 2 = (3x)log10 3 .
40. In this question you can use this result provided you give the relevant justification:
a
• If −1 < r < 1 the infinite series (a + ar + ar2 + ..... + arn + ......) has sum .
1−r
Find the sum of the infinite series:

log2 10 − log4 10 + log16 10 − ........ + (−1)n log22n 10 + .........

41. * Prove that if x and y are real numbers then x2 + y 2 ≥ 2xy.

If a and b are each greater than 1 then show loga a + logb a + loga b + logb b ≥ 4.

6 D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk
42. ** Given that
x y √
2 y + x = ( 2)5 (5)
3 3
log3 (x − y) + log3 (x + y) = 3 (6)

Find x and y.
43. **
1 1
(a) Prove carefully that + > 2.
log2 π log5 π
(b) Given that k and n are integers with n > k + 1 such that

logk (k + 1) × logk+1 (k + 2) × ............ × logn (n + 1) = 2016

Determine n in terms of k. Hence find the value of the integer n when k = 2.

7 D.F.Almeida@exeter.ac.uk